
audiobook
The Clipper Ship Era
PREFACE
ILLUSTRATIONS
CHAPTER I AMERICAN SHIPPING TO THE CLOSE OF THE WAR OF 1812
CHAPTER II BRITISH SHIPPING AFTER 1815—THE EAST INDIA COMPANY
CHAPTER III THE NORTH ATLANTIC PACKET SHIPS, 1815-1850
CHAPTER IV OPIUM CLIPPERS AND EARLY CLIPPER SHIPS, 1832-1848
CHAPTER V TWO EARLY CLIPPER SHIP COMMANDERS
CHAPTER VI THE REPEAL OF THE BRITISH NAVIGATION LAWS—THE “ORIENTAL”
CHAPTER VII THE RUSH FOR CALIFORNIA—A SAILING DAY
The book takes listeners on a vivid tour of the golden age of wooden sailing ships, spanning the years when the demand for fast tea, gold, and passengers sparked a frenzy of design and competition. It explores how American and British shipbuilders, owners, and daring captains pushed the limits of speed and elegance, achieving voyages that outpaced early steamers by weeks. With detailed accounts of famous vessels, their construction, and the men who sailed them, the narrative brings the era’s excitement to life.
Drawing on the author’s personal memories of Boston shipyards and his own service aboard a celebrated clipper, the work blends firsthand anecdotes with meticulous research from naval archives. Rich illustrations accompany the storytelling, helping listeners picture the sleek hulls, towering masts, and bustling decks. By the close of the period, the rise of steam power begins to loom, marking the end of an unforgettable chapter in maritime history.
Full title
The clipper ship era an epitome of famous American and British clipper ships, their owners, builders, commanders, and crews, 1843-1869 an epitome of famous American and British clipper ships, their owners, builders, commanders, and crews, 1843-1869
Language
en
Duration
~10 hours (584K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
United States: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1911.
Credits
Chuck Greif, deaurider and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2022-10-14
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1841–1922
A seasoned sea captain who later became a respected maritime historian, he turned a lifetime on the water into vivid books about clipper ships and yachting. His work still stands out for its firsthand knowledge of nineteenth-century seafaring.
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